Area universities respond to coronavirus threat

COVID-19 on campus: Area universities responding to coronavirus threat

n story by JESSICA MULLEN

Upstate universities are making preparations for a possible outbreak of coronavirus on campus. For most, that means, that means examining everything from potential oncampus quarantine locations to canceling study abroad trips.

BOB JONES UNIVERSITY

Although Bob Jones University does not currently have any students abroad, university officials are re considering plans for summer sessions and trips.

“We cancelled a sum mer missions trip to China and postponed a student trip scheduled to South Korea. We are also advis ing the campus community against travel to any CDCdesignated Level 3 country which today, in addition to China and South Korea, in cludes Iran and Italy,” says university spokesman Randy Page.

For students traveling out of the country for spring break, Bob Jones University is issuing a warning that they may be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon re-entry to the United States. “In working with our student life and operations departments, we have identified ar eas on the campus where we could quarantine students and provide appropriate support services,” Page said.

Bob Jones University students are also being encouraged to first call a telehealth hot line to get medical guidance from nurses concerning testing.

“This type of triage also serves to protect the integrity of urgent care and emergency rooms in the region,” Page says. “Our campus community also has access to a walk-in clinic operated by Prisma Health across the street from campus.”

During a 2007 outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough) on the campus, the aca demic semester was ended early, and students were sent home due to the severity of the outbreak.

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

At Clemson University, 385 study-abroad students were asked to return to the United States and undergo screening upon their re turn. Clemson announced March 3 that it was can celing university-related international travel until further notice.

As part of a March 6 press release, Clemson public re lations officials offered advice for those reacting with returning students.

“As you can imagine, this is a stressful time for those returning from abroad,” the press release said. “Those returning should be welcomed back as part of the Clemson community, and not stigmatized or ostracized from scholarly and social activities.”

The students who are returning from abroad are working with Redfern Health Center on health-assessment screening, but the school is also offering counseling for those concerned about the potential outbreak through its campus Counseling and Psychological Services.

FURMAN UNIVERSITY

Earlier last week, three Furman students who were studying abroad in Italy left the country and returned to their homes when their programs were canceled, according to spokesman Clinton Colmenares. He added that Furman has canceled international Furman-sponsored spring break trips and all Furmansponsored international trips through May.

“We are constantly mon itoring the situation and will make other changes as necessary,” Colmenares said on March 6. “Furman’s Study Away Safety and Compliance and Assessment of Risk Committee has been closely monitoring coronavirus developments in the United States and across the globe, espe cially in areas where our students are studying and places we are scheduled to visit. We also have an emergency management team focusing on potential impacts to campus from the coronavirus.”

The last major epidemic that Furman made preparations for was the H1N1 virus in 2009, but there was no outbreak on campus.

GREENVILLE TECHNICAL COLLEGE Greenville Tech has an emergency response team and procedures in place, and the school is “activating and focusing the team and intensifying its ef forts,” according to spokeswoman Becky Mann.

Greenville Tech does not currently provide on-campus health services but is working with the South Carolina De partment of Health and Environmental Control regarding quarantines, according to Mann.

SAFETY FIRST

During a 2007 outbreak of pertussis (whooping cough) at Bob Jones University, the academic semester ended early, and students were sent home due to the severity of the outbreak.

The last major epidemic that Furman made preparations for was the H1N1 virus in 2009, but there was no outbreak on campus.

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